FAIRFAX, Va. -- George Mason Athletics annual banquet was held Monday afternoon at EagleBank Arena and recognized academic, athletic, and civic achievements of its student-athletes. 
 
The Green and Gold Celebration brought together student-athletes and coaches from Mason's 22 intercollegiate sports along with department staff and Mason supporters.
 
Awards bestowed Monday included the Aimee Willard Commemorative Award, Susan Collins Leadership for Women in Sport Award, President's Cup, Patriot Cup, Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year and a series of awards, which honor athletic excellence in a variety of categories. The 99 seniors received their George Mason Award, a hand-sculpted artwork of George Mason designed as a permanent remembrance of both the institution and the student-athlete's legacy.
 
The prestigious Aimee Willard Commemorative Award was established in 1997 to remember former Mason soccer and lacrosse athlete Aimee Willard, who was tragically murdered in 1996. The award assures that Aimee's legacy and contributions live on through another Mason student-athlete who mirror the standards of quality set by Aimee in her two-sport career: intensity, consistency of purpose, achievement and teamwork. 
 
This year's recipient Jessica McRae (Women's Track & Field) was presented the award by Asst. VP/Director of Athletics Brad Edwards. Eight other student-athletes were nominated by their head coaches for the award, including Jack Bolz (Men's Volleyball), Will Halamandaris (Golf), Melanie Hutchinson (Lacrosse), Jester Hutchison (Women's Soccer), Paige La (Women's Tennis), Shawn Nonaka (Wrestling), Josh Oduro (Men's Basketball), and Amber Verstynen (Softball).
 
Faculty athletics representative Dr. Dominique Banville then presented the Susan Collins Leadership Award for Women in Sport to rowing's Natalia Kanos. 

The award recognizes the student-athlete who best exemplifies the leadership qualities set by former George Mason Senior Associate Athletic Director Sue Collins, who dedicated more than 40 years in NCAA Division I athletics and 34 years with the Patriots. Her leadership, integrity, innovation, mentoring, and service to the NCAA, George Mason and the local community has created a legacy that will keep Mason athletics a leader in college sports for years to come.
 
Kanos is the first female international student and first student-athlete to hold the office of Student Body President. On campus, she serves as a Resident Advisor for George Mason Housing.  She is a leader on her rowing team on and off the water. Natalia has been active in community service where she a fundraiser and a Media Intern for "Focus On The Family Foundation," which assists in distributing food and supplies to orphans and widows in her country of Nigeria. She is a two-time Peter N. Sterns Provost Scholar Athlete, the highest academic award for student-athletes at George Mason University. 

The final individual award of the celebration named Josh Oduro and Annabelle Eastman as Dr. Pettrone Student-Athletes of the Year. 

Oduro is the first player in Mason history to be named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team. He was an NABC All-District 4 First Team and VaSID First Team All-State selection. He ranked first in the A-10 in scoring, claiming Mason's first individual conference scoring title since George Evans in 1998-99. He finished in the top-10 in the league in scoring, rebounding and blocks. He was one of just three players in the nation to average at least 18-plus points, shoot 52 percent or better from the floor and tally at least 1.5 blocks per contest. He posted four 30-plus point efforts, 11 games with 20 or more points, and scored at least 10 in 23 of the 27 games he played.
 
Eastman was the 2021 Atlantic 10 champion in cross country, becoming Mason's first athlete since 2013 to win the individual title. She qualified for her second consecutive NCAA Cross Country Championship by placing seventh in the NCAA Southeast Region, one of the toughest in the country. She is only the sixth-ever Mason female athlete to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships and the first since 1996. She earned Second Team All-America honors after qualifying for the NCAA Track & Field Championships in spring of 2021. She is a Provost Scholar-Athlete, A-10 All-Academic selection and USTFCCCA Academic All-American as well as CoSIDA All-District honoree.  
 
GREEN & GOLD CELEBRATION AWARD WINNERS
 
Aimee Willard Commemorative Award 
Jessica McRae (Women's Track & Field)

Susan Collins Leadership for Women in Sport Award
Natalia Kanos (Rowing)
 
President's Cup
The award is presented to the Mason team that has earned the highest cumulative team GPA by the end of the Fall academic term.  
Women's Team: Women's Volleyball
Men's Team: Men's Cross Country
 
Patriot's Cup
The 2021-2022 Patriot Cup nominated teams have demonstrated that spirit to their fellow student-athletes.
Winning Team: Softball
 
Iron Patriot Award
The Iron Patriot Award is presented to the senior student-athlete who through their dedication, commitment and sacrifice in the weight room has been a positive influence in their role as a teammate and on their competitive performance. Student-Athletes are selected for the award by members of the strength and conditioning team at Mason.
Female Iron Patriot: Livija Kaktaite (Women's Basketball)
Male Iron Patriot: Scott Morgan (Baseball)
 
Female Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year:  Annabelle Eastman (Women's Track & Field)
Male Dr. Pettrone Student-Athlete of the Year: Josh Oduro (Men's Basketball)
  
Female Sportsmanship: Livija Kaktaite (Women's Basketball)
Male Sportsmanship: Jack Bolz (Men's Volleyball) 

Female Most Improved: Jessica McRae (Women's Track & Field)
+ Has gone from walk-on to 2021 Atlantic 10 champion in the hammer throw
+ 2022 Atlantic 10 silver medalist in the hammer throw and weight throw

Male Most Improved: Jack Ikenberry (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country)
+ 2021 Atlantic 10 runner-up in cross country
+ 2022 Atlantic 10 champion in the 5,000m
 
Female Rookie of the Year: Ali Tyler (Women's Swimming & Diving)
+ Five-time Atlantic 10 champion, earning gold in three individual events and two relays 
+ 2022 Atlantic 10 Rookie Performer of the Year
 
Male Rookie of the Year: Logan Messer (Wrestling)
+ Overall record of 27-9 (most wins on the team) at 174 pounds in 2022
+ Five technical falls ranked him 15th in NCAA Division 1 wrestling
+ U-20 Nationals All-American

Women's Team of The Year: Women's Tennis 
+ Best record since 2018-19, finishing 13-7 overall
+ Seven of the nine positions had winning records this season

Men's Team of The Year: Men's Swimming and Diving
+ Second at the 2022 Atlantic 10 Swimming & Diving Championships for the second straight year 
+ Eight medals over the four-day championship meet